# Sign Regulations in Buhl, Idaho

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Buhl, Idaho, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Buhl, Idaho (ID)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/idaho/buhl
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Buhl, Idaho regulates 14 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 10 ft above highest structural point of building tall and Not specified (Subject to total sign area limits), with a Must meet district setback requirements. setback (Sec. 9-14-5(C)(4)(a)-(b), 9-14-7(A)). Most commercial signs in Buhl require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 10 ft above highest structural point of building | Max 64 sq ft total, or 32 sq ft per side | — |
| Commercial District, Industrial District | 2 | — | Electronic sign portion not to exceed 50% of face of sign | — |
| R-1, R-16, R-P | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Maximum 3 sq ft per linear ft of building frontage not to exceed 200 sq ft total per use/occupancy/development; internally lighted signs max 100 sq ft; wall/window/surface max 10% of facade. | — | Must meet minimum district setback requirements. | — | On a structure, attached parallel to, but within nine inches of, a wall. | — | 9-14-5(C)(1), (D)(1)(a), (D)(1)(b); 9-14-7(A) |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft above highest structural point of building | Not specified (Subject to total sign area limits) | — | Must meet district setback requirements. | 1 per principal building, 2 for corner properties/frontages of 180 ft+ | Within the property line. Not permitted on public right of way. | — | 9-14-5(C)(4)(a)-(b), 9-14-7(A) |
| Freestanding Sign (Subdivision identification) | 8 ft above natural grade | Max 64 sq ft total, or 32 sq ft per side | — | Not in public right of way; otherwise subject to district setbacks. | 1 per major entrance if >20 lots; 1 total if <20 lots | At subdivision entrance; not in public right of way | — | 9-14-5(C)(4)(c) |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | May not extend more than 4 ft from surface attached to. | — | — | Affixed to building/wall; projecting over public ROW requires 8 ft ground clearance. | — | 9-14-5(C)(3), 9-14-7(A) |
| Portable Sign | 3 ft | 9 sq ft per side, max 2 sides (total 18 sq ft) | — | — | — | On private property; if in public ROW, only during business hours | — | 9-14-5(C)(5) |
| Awning Sign | — | 25% per side of the awning | — | — | — | On awning | — | 9-14-5(C)(6) |
| Window Sign | — | 50% of transparent area of window | — | — | — | Placed in or on any window | — | 9-14-5(C)(7) |
| Electronic Message Sign (Zones other than R-1 through R-16 and R-P) | — | Electronic sign portion not to exceed 50% of face of the sign | — | — | — | Freestanding or monument signs; subordinate to overall sign design. | — | 9-14-5(C)(10), (a)-(d) |

### Commercial District, Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Electronic Message Sign | — | Electronic sign portion not to exceed 50% of face of sign | — | — | — | Freestanding or monument signs; subordinate to overall sign design | — | 9-14-5(C)(10), (a)-(d) |
| Items for Display (in public right of way) | — | — | — | — | — | Public right of way | — | 9-14-5(B) |

### R-1, R-16, R-P

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Electronic Message Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9-14-5(C)(10) |

## Prohibited signs in Buhl

- Signs placed in any public right of way, except publicly owned signs, traffic control signals, directional signs, signs guiding traffic and parking on private property without advertising, and signs allowed by permit from the public agency owning the right of way.
- Signs located at or near any public street or intersection that create a traffic hazard by obstructing vision, interfere with view of, or are confused with any authorized traffic sign.
- Flashing lights or strobe lights of any color (message center signs are not considered flashing).
- Use of 'Day-Glo,' fluorescent, reflective materials that give the appearance of changing color, or brilliant luminescent colors.
- Signs on vacant property over four square feet per face, except freestanding real estate signs for sale, lease, or rent.
- Roof signs that project partially or wholly over, or are mounted to, any roof (except mansard roof signs meeting specific height criteria).
- Bench signs (commercial signage on outdoor furniture).
- Vehicle signs mounted on the roof or antenna of automobiles (except for student driver/auto transportation services), or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right of way unless the vehicle is licensed, registered, and used in daily business operations.
- Signs deemed hazardous or unsafe by the building inspector, engineer, or traffic officer, creating a hazard to vehicular, pedestrian traffic, or the public.
- Any sign transformer or device that interferes with electronic reception; any device that cannot be silenced or corrected must be disconnected.
- Abandoned or unsightly signs including those on vacant property for more than six months, signs relating to past events remaining more than thirty days, or signs that are weak, unsafe, or constructed of inferior or deteriorated materials.

## Signs exempt from permit in Buhl

- Posting of legal notices by public officers.
- Directional or instructional signs that do not advertise a business, such as signs identifying restrooms, public telephones, walkways, parking lot entrance and exit signs, etc. (Neon open/closed signs are subject to Section 9-14-5 provisions.)
- Governmental signs for traffic control, direction to public facilities, regulatory notice, warning, or other public purposes.
- Holiday decorations and decorative signs, or signs and decoration for civic/community events (allowed as short-term signage).
- Flags of recognized governments, United States government military units, or other government-sanctioned flags, if no larger than sixty square feet and flown from a pole no higher than forty feet.
- Temporary signs (displayed 72 hours or less).
- Political signs advertising candidates or issues during election campaigns, conforming to state requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No section in the provided ordinance text makes explicit reference to a required master sign plan, sign plan, or required variance/public meeting for general sign installations.
- Permit applications for signs must be made to the building inspector and include information necessary to ensure compliance, but a ‘sign plan’ or variance meeting is not stated as a general requirement.
- A special permit may be required for placing items related to a business in a public right of way in commercial or industrial districts (see 9-14-5(B)), involving an application process and city council approval, but not referred to as a sign plan.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Buhl, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Buhl+ID&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-buhl

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